A local "good Samaritan" was recognized during Tuesday's regular city of Deming Council meeting for aiding the Deming Police Department in an arrest.

Jesus Orozco, 50, was given a certificate of recognition by Chief Michael Carillo and Mayor Pro Tem Linda Franklin (formerly Enis) for aiding Corporal Alicia Granillo in an Oct. 2 arrest at Walmart.

At the time, Orozco was shopping when he saw a suspect fleeing from police. Orozco decided to act and went in for a tackle, bringing down the suspect and giving Deming police a change to make the arrest. The suspect was arrested on three felony warrants.

"I's very exciting and rewarding," Orozco said after the award. "I do appreciate what the city did for me."

Chief Carillo said he was "very proud" of Orozco and that his actions stopped the potential for other shoppers to get hurt by the suspect.

In other meeting action, councilors approved two amendments to city code concerning utilities. The ordinances adjusted fees for connecting to city water, gas and sewer lines, with emphasis on county residents living just outside the city.

In the words of Lawrence Brookey, city public works director, the goal of the actions is to make it "more affordable for people in the county to connect."

The ordinance on connection regulation and fees now does not specify between city and county residents and is particularly targeted to areas on southwest of the city.

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"(This is) making it more affordable for people in the county to connect," Brookey said. "We're talking about the Solano Project, basically."

The project, completed in 2011, extended city utility lines near Doña Ana, Hermanas and Solano roads in anticipation of possible future growth of the city.

Citizens wishing and able to connect into the city's utility system will now pay $400 for sewer service that connects to an eight-inch or less tap with the fee doubling to $800 for 12-inch connections.

Councilors also approved a variance and special use permit for future local businesses. They approved a parking variance request for the coming Tractor Supply Company on E. Pine St., which has not announced when it will open. Because, as the company argued, their parking needs are lower than other retailers, they asked for a variance to be able to create outdoor displays they say are beneficial to business over unneeded parking spaces. Councilors unanimously approved the variance.

The special use permit was requested by Eduardo Castrejon, the owner of property at 1617 S. Eighth St. on which a transmission repair shop currently sits. Castrejon requested a permit to open a used car dealership alongside the repair shop.

Councilors approved the permit, but with conditions that the dealership must be properly licensed and the property must come into code compliance. City officials said that "for years," the repair shop had not followed code by not having an opaque colored fence covering vehicles. Castrejon will have 90 days to come into compliance or lose the permit.

The next regular city meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10 at the John Strand Municipal Building, 309 S. Gold Avenue.

Matt Robinson can be reached at mrobinson@demingheadlight.com. Follow him on Twitter @mattrob722.